Tyes gets another chance to shine

Jaymel Tyes is an impact player on both the gridiron and the diamond, and the Baldwyn athlete’s high school football and baseball coaches can certainly attest to that.
“He’s an outstanding kid,” said Jimmy Dillinger, who retired this winter after 10 seasons as Baldwyn High’s head football coach. “But he’s also an impact player, especially for us since he was a freshman.
“He was phenomenal from his freshman year all the way through.”
In the 2008 MHSAA Class 2A state championship game, Tyes intercepted three passes against Forest as the Bearcats won their first state championship. The Baldwyn senior defensive back had a total of 14 picks that year and finished his high school career with 34.
Not to mention, the 2008 Daily Journal All-Area first-team selection returned two punts for touchdowns last season, and said he takes pride in his game-changing ways. Although, he doesn’t say this in an overly confident manner like the rapper Plies does in the “Plenty Money” record, which can be heard as background music when you dial Tyes’ cell phone.
“I’m a defensive player,” Tyes said on the phone Tuesday. “I got whatever you call it – shut-down … .
“I’m a playmaker.”
His game-changing performances have earned him a spot in tonight’s Mississippi Association of Coaches Bernard Blackwell All-Star Football Classic. Joining Tyes in the 60th annual game at Mississippi College will be teammate Perez Welch.
The 6-foot-3, 310-pound defensive lineman is also a game changer, as he recorded 110 tackles (25 for a loss) and had eight sacks in 2008. He also scored two rushing touchdowns as a fullback.
“He’s got good size and good quickness,” said Dillinger, who will be attending tonight’s game. “He’s probably one of the better run stoppers we had to play at Baldwyn.”Speed kills
Tyes said he runs a 4.3 40-yard dash; his speed is readily apparent on the baseball diamond.
“His biggest asset is his speed,” said Baldwyn High baseball coach Gregg Tucker. “We pretty much felt like every ball that was hit out there he’ll get to.
“His speed – being able to track balls down – is his best asset.”
That goes to show how much of an impact Tyes has on a baseball game from his center field position.
In addition, the 5-foot-11, 195-pound Tyes had a tremendous effect offensively.
“He can easily turn a single into a triple just by stealing second and third base,” Tucker said. “He puts a lot of pressure on opposing defenses just because of his speed on the basepaths.”
Tyes is not just a singles hitter, but can hit for power. He went yard five times this season for Baldwyn.
“He’s just a tremendous athlete,” Tucker said, recalling Tyes’ two-hit, two-run performance in the Class 1A/2A Northeast Mississippi Coaches Association for Better Baseball All-Star Game in June.
Tyes will be a freshman member of the Itawamba Community College football team in the fall, and said he is going to try to play baseball for the Indians in the spring. The 19-year-old said he plans on going to Delta State after his ICC stay would allow him to qualify academically for NCAA competition.
“I know Delta State has also wanted to sign him,” Dillinger said. “He’ll strictly be a cornerback-type in college.
“He’s a good athlete.”